Money no barrier to wipe tears for landslide victims; Modi visits landslide-ravaged Wayanad

KALPETTA: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced that the central government will provide all assistance necessary to the landslide victims. The announcement was made in a review meeting at the Wayanad Collectorate after visiting the disaster areas.

"The central government is with Kerala. Money is not an obstacle to dealing with the disaster. What is important is to stand with the affected people. The dreams of hundreds of people have been shattered. Their life safety is the responsibility of the government." The Prime Minister directed the state government to submit a detailed report of the damage.

The Prime Minister, who reached the disaster site this afternoon, saw firsthand the wounds of the landslide-ravaged Wayanad, felt the pangs of the people who lost everything, and offered consolation by assuring them that he was with him. The Prime Minister's words gave them hope on the way to survival.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Union Minister of State Suresh Gopi and Governor Arif Muhammad Khan were also present. Chief Secretary Dr V Venu and ADGP MR Ajith Kumar narrated the picture of the disaster.

The Prime Minister arrived in Wayanad at 11.47 a.m. from Kannur in an Air Force helicopter. The prime minister saw Chooralmala and Mundakkai from the copter.

At 12.15 PM, the Prime Minister landed at the Kalpetta SKMJ school grounds and was received by the Governor, Chief Minister, Suresh Gopi, Ministers K Rajan, OR Kelu, T Siddique MLA and others. Then he travelled to the disaster area by car with the Chief Minister.

The Prime Minister watched everything from Bailey Bridge. He said he wanted to see the Vellarmala school that had been destroyed. The sight shocked the Prime Minister. He asked with concern about the children who were studying there and asked about the orphaned children. All 11 children of the collapsed Mundakkai L.P. School had been swept away. The army officer showed an old map of the area and a post-disaster map.

Held and comforted

The Prime Minister, who reached the camp at St. Joseph's School in Meppadi, spoke to the survivors. Their eyes welled up, their throats cleared, their words broke. The prime minister comforted them by patting them on the head, on the shoulders and holding their hands. He assured them that the country is with them.

The Prime Minister also visited Meppadi Wims Hospital where the injured are being treated. He talked to some, held the children close and comforted the injured and those with them. Flowers were placed on the pictures of the deceased.

An hour late

Modi returned from the disaster site an hour late after seeing the extent of the disaster. Modi took off from the Kalpetta helipad five hours after the review meeting at the Collectorate. He reached Kannur airport at 5.45 and Delhi at 5.57.